6/4/10

This Wednesday afternoon, Jeff Koons presented the 17th BMW Le Mans project to a group of fans and supporters at the forum of Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. This was the continuation of the love affair between the American Art Tycoon and France. One remembers the incredible megalomaniac but outstanding exhibition of Koons at the Chateau de Versailles two years ago. The Koons car takes place near other art cars, a commission launched by auctionneer Hervé Poulain for BMW in 1975. First (and best?) project was by Alexander Calder , followed by other sharp pieces by Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), and Robert Rauschenberg (1986). Less interesting projects were done by Andy Warhol (1979), AR Penck (1991) and a couple of totally missed cars by David Hockney (1995) and Sandro Chia (1992). Our favorite one remains Jenny Holzer (1999) that will probably be surpassed by Koons and his magnetic PR power. 7-8 other cars were done but deserve nothing but invisibility. Now, you can get these cars as 1:18 models and they are great. Think when the Koons 1:18 comes out, buy it, get it signed and give to your kid in a sealed box that he can open only in 30 years. Then he will be capable to buy himself a new house or even better, a vintage Norton from the early mid-century. Call this a friendly advice. The M3 GT2 will race on the Circuit Bugatti June 12th & 13 th. Let's wish it NOT to crash as a work of art of that value could put an insurance company on one knee.YJH